ammo and component shortage impact?

Are you all seeing an impact to competition shooting yet because of the ammo and reloading component shortage? any idea if it will be impacted over the next few months?

I am asking about any changes to the competitions themselves - frequency, amount of shooting, etc.

just wondering...

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Deer_Freak

February 9, 2013, 09:59 PM

For civilian shooters in this area the ammo shortage has cramped their style. We are getting a lot of law enforcement in regular IDPA and Zombie matches. We actually are shooting in smaller squads because we have an abundance of range/safety officers.

There is a beginners match that does have a problem getting enough SO's. The beginners have a communication problem. They use google groups to communicate. Even though they are sending the message that the match is a go before 1pm, no one gets the message until after 4 pm. Many shooters and range/safety officers that would like to help live an hour or so away from the range. That is not enough notice for a match that starts at 6pm.

Sam1911

February 9, 2013, 10:16 PM

Sure. Everyone's talking about it. Especially the 3-gun crowd. Some of our local IDPA clubs have gone to allowing folks to enter with .22s in their club-level matches. (Probably as a side match.)

GCBurner

February 9, 2013, 10:18 PM

I was shooting 9mm reloads for practice and commercial 9mm white box ammo for IDPA competition. Now I'm shooting .22 LR in a conversion unit for practice and 9mm reloads for competition.

DJW

February 10, 2013, 12:17 AM

It is getting ugly as there is not any .22 lr ammo in the stores and I have not been able to reload it! There are no primers in stock at any of the suppliers I have used in the past 25 years................Not Good.

Nwflycaster

February 10, 2013, 12:35 AM

Normally I would be practicing twice a week with the match season starting next month. But since I don't have enough components to last the season I will only fire a target or two in offhand to be sure I'm sighted in. Hopefully my supply of loaded will last long enough until the new keg of Varget arrives.

GCBurner

February 10, 2013, 12:54 AM

I used to just go shopping for reloading components when I ran out of something, because there was always some primers, or powder, or bullets on the shelves. Now I look and see what's on the shelves, and if it's something I think I'm likely to use, I go ahead and buy some, whether I need it right now or not. It may not be there next week, or next month, or even next year.

Deer_Freak

February 10, 2013, 02:28 AM

I have developed a good supply of ammo since the shortage of 2008/2009. My logic was if a shortage happened then we will have more shortages in the future. Then when I saw that Las Vegas had Obama favored to win the election, I bought even more ammo. I thought we would have a run on ammo and guns no matter who won the election. Both candidates had a history of supporting gun control.

btg3

February 10, 2013, 07:43 AM

One IDPA club in the area has proposed reducing round counts for the stages.

Good turnout for Steel Challenge yesterday.

GCBurner

February 10, 2013, 03:23 PM

Our IDPA club is working to reduce the round count, too. The count in this month's match was 60 rounds for 5 stages, where it used to be 80-90.

BullfrogKen

February 10, 2013, 03:46 PM

At the beginning of the year I only had enough bullets on hand to last until September if I kept up the same pace I shot last year.

I did manage to buy enough over the past several weeks to last the whole season, as long as I don't go hog wild with practice.

I feel really bad for the small bore matches. At least not many people buy the match components I use. Everyone is out buying .22s right now.

btg3

February 10, 2013, 04:25 PM

...was 60 rounds for 5 stages, where it used to be 80-90
I haven't really warmed up to the idea. After paying the match fee, driving 2 hrs round trip, and getting little else accomplished on a Saturday, I am in favor of more shooting, rather than less.

Of course, the club is looking at whatever it takes to get shooters there to support the match and keep revenue flowing.

cacoltguy

February 10, 2013, 05:56 PM

I shoot Highpower service rifle matches and while I was able to acquire a decent stash of components (before everything totally dried up) to last for a while, a shortage is something I am cognizant about. I have been limiting the amount of practice rounds I fire because I really don't know when things will return to normal and I'd hate to run out of components. Normally I would just buy components in smaller quantities as the need arose, and this "stockpiling" was a considerable expense. I am able to do it because I am single, no wife, kids or mortgage, but I'm sure that spending a large sum of money at once on components is something alot of competitors couldn't do. Because of this I'm expecting that the number of shooters may dwindle in the future unless "normalcy" is restored.

BullfrogKen

February 10, 2013, 06:05 PM

I "stockpiled" powder and primers. Bullets - match bullets - weren't something I thought would disappear. But they did.

It'll be interesting to see if the vendors at Camp Perry have any components to sell.

Dr.Rob

February 10, 2013, 06:35 PM

It's definitely going to screw up my competition schedule this year.

I need to buy more bullets. Brass, primers, powder I have.

k9kev88

February 10, 2013, 10:56 PM

I am sad to hear that the sport of shooting is taking such a hit... at least for now.

I was thinking that we may have to resort to an "IDPA" match that resembles the 1860s? Couple of 1858's on the hips - do your best with 12 shots, then finish with a blackpowder shotgun... cycle reloads a couple of times. Plenty of pyrodex and lead out there.

waktasz

February 10, 2013, 10:57 PM

Rifle ammo is tough. I have enough to shoot the two big matches I want to attend this year, but not much left for practice which sucks. I don't reload 223.

Pistol components haven't been a problem yet, although the monthly indoor match I attend that requires jacketed bullets may have to get skipped because I don't have many of those.

jmorris

February 10, 2013, 11:28 PM

Most everyone I know has been around the block before and they are all fine. New guys and gals are out of luck though.

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